February 5, 2024
Photographer: Fiddler, W. (2023, March 19). [Anishinaabe Baby].
We are delighted to announce a groundbreaking development in Canada’s early learning and child care sector – an upcoming, new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) titled, “Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing.” This innovative initiative is spearheaded by esteemed Anishinaabe scholar and educator Dr. Jan Hare, Dean pro tem, who is renowned for her dedication to Indigenous pedagogy and holds the prestigious Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Pedagogy.
Dr. Jan Hare, Dean pro tem, has secured $249,000 in funding from the Government of Canada’s Early Learning and Child Care Innovation Program, marking a significant milestone for the early childhood education landscape. The course is dedicated to fostering inclusive practices that honour the diverse voices within Indigenous communities and contribute to a more culturally responsive early learning and child care workforce across Canada.
The primary goal of this MOOC is to enhance the professional development of early childhood educators and service providers by integrating Indigenous perspectives, worldviews, and pedagogies into early learning environments. Through six learning circles, participants will delve into topics such as Indigenous knowledges, histories, perspectives, pedagogies, family and community, land as the first teacher, and Indigenous languages and literacies.
This initiative aligns with Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Call-to-Action #12 “…to develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs for Aboriginal families,” as well as the goals set out in UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan. Contributing to the resurgence and reclamation of Indigenous languages, cultures, knowledge, and rights, the MOOC will also help ensure inclusivity and cultural responsiveness in learning environments for young children and their families.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Hare for her exemplary leadership and visionary contributions, which have brought this project to life. Together, we look forward to advancing the integration of Indigenous knowledge in early childhood education and positively impacting the learning experiences of educators and children alike.
For those unfamiliar with MOOCs, they are accessible online courses featuring learning modules that participants can engage with at their own pace, ensuring accessibility for a diverse range of learners.
